Swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound

ABSTRACT

A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound that allows separate storage of predetermined quantities of dry compound and liquid in the same packaging with the applicator is disclosed. The swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound comprises of a swab applicator comprising an elongated tubular housing with a liquid enclosed within the hollow interior of the elongated tubular housing with an opening means to release the liquid to an applicator tip affixed to one end of the elongated tubular housing wherein the swab applicator is sealed in a package with the dry compound sealed in or around the applicator tip. When the liquid is released into the applicator tip through the opening means, the liquid in the moisturized applicator tip will interact with the dry compound for application. The packaging is then removed to use the swab applicator. This separation of the dry compound and liquid will greatly prolong the shelf life of the contents.

BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a package for swab applicators. More specifically the present invention relates to a packaging for swab applicators that allows separate storage of predetermined quantities of dry compound and liquid in the same packaging with the swab applicator.

BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Swab applicator generally comprises of a tubular handle with a formed absorbent tip at one or both of the two ends of the tubular handle. The absorbent tip may be made of cotton or a foam absorbent material. The tubular handle may be made of wood, paper, or plastic and it may be solid or hollow. A hollow tubular handle may also contain liquid or cream within its hollow interior.

Swab applicators have a variety of applications. Swab applicators are a convenient and sanitary means for applying and removing a variety of substances such as liquids, lotions, creams, and various chemicals and medications. However, most chemicals and medications will have a much longer shelf life if kept in dry powder form as compared to premixed liquid form. To achieve the longer shelf life, the chemicals and medications must be kept as a dry powder form and a liquid activator must be mixed with the dry powder in predetermined ratio just before application.

This may be achieved by keeping the dry powder in a separate container from the liquid activator. The dry powder and the liquid activator will then have to be measured and mixed in a predetermined ratio before application. A swab applicator may then be used to apply the liquid mixture. This is an inconvenient and time consuming process which requires careful measuring of the dry powder and the liquid activator and is prong to mistakes and accidental spills.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound that allows separate storage of predetermined quantities of dry compound and liquid in the same packaging with the swab applicator. The swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound comprises of a swab applicator comprising an elongated tubular housing with liquid enclosed within the hollow interior of the elongated tubular housing with an opening means to release the liquid activator to an applicator tip affixed to one end of the elongated tubular housing wherein the swab applicator is sealed in a package with the dry compound form of the chemical or medication sealed in or around the applicator tip. When the liquid is released into the applicator tip through the opening means, the liquid in the moisturized applicator tip will interact with the dry compound for application. The packaging is then removed to use the swab applicator. This separation of the dry compound and liquid will greatly prolong the shelf life of the contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound comprises of a swab applicator 1 with an elongated tubular housing 2 with a predetermined quantity of liquid 3 enclosed within the hollow interior of the elongated tubular housing 2 with an opening means 4 to release the liquid 3 to an absorbent tip 5 affixed to one end of the elongated tubular housing 2. The opening means 4 may be as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,035 or any other suitable opening means. A predetermined quantity of the dry compound 7 form of the chemical or medication is sealed in or around the absorbent tip 5. The dry compound 7 may be starch or any other suitable dry compound or powder. When the liquid 3 is released into the absorbent tip 5 through the opening means 4, the liquid 3 in the moisturized absorbent tip 5 will interact with the dry compound 7 in the correct predetermined ratio for application. A brush or other suitable applicator may also be used in place of the absorbent tip. This separation of the dry compound 7 and liquid 3 will greatly prolong the shelf life of the contents.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound comprises of a swab applicator 1 with an elongated tubular housing 2 with a predetermined quantity of liquid 3 enclosed within the hollow interior of the elongated tubular housing 2 with an opening means 4 to release the liquid 3 to an absorbent tip 5 affixed to one end of the elongated tubular housing 2. The opening means 4 may be as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,035 or any other suitable opening means. The swab applicator 1 is sealed in a package 6 with a predetermined quantity of the dry compound 7 form of the chemical or medication sealed in or around the absorbent tip 5. The package may enclose the entire swab applicator 1 or only the absorbent tip 5. The dry compound 7 may be starch or any other suitable dry compound or powder. When the liquid 3 is released into the absorbent tip 5 through the opening means 4, the liquid 3 in the moisturized absorbent tip 5 will interact with the dry compound 7 in the correct predetermined ratio for application. This separation of the dry compound 7 and liquid 3 will greatly prolong the shelf life of the contents.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given: 

1. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound comprising: a swab applicator comprising an elongated tubular housing enclosing a predetermined quantity of liquid with an opening means to release the liquid to an applicator tip affixed to one end of the elongated tubular housing; and a predetermined quantity of dry compound disposed in or around the applicator tip; wherein when the liquid is released into the applicator tip through the opening means, the liquid in the moisturized applicator tip will interact with the dry compound in the correct predetermined ratio for application.
 2. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 1, wherein the opening means is a score line near one end of the elongated housing and a high viscosity plug near the other end of the elongated tubular housing.
 3. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 1, wherein the opening means is a first score line near one end of the elongated tubular housing and a second score line near the other end of the elongated tubular housing.
 4. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 1, wherein said applicator tip is made of cotton.
 5. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 1, wherein said applicator tip is made of foam.
 6. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 1, wherein said applicator tip is a brush.
 7. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound comprising: a swab applicator comprising an elongated tubular housing enclosing a predetermined quantity of liquid with an opening means to release the liquid to an applicator tip affixed to one end of the elongated tubular housing; and a package sealing the swab applicator with a predetermined quantity of the dry compound form of the chemical or medication sealed in or around the applicator tip; wherein when the liquid is released into the applicator tip through the opening means, the liquid in the moisturized applicator tip will interact with the dry compound in the correct predetermined ratio for application after the packaging is removed.
 8. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 7, wherein the opening means is a score line near one end of the elongated housing and a high viscosity plug near the other end of the elongated tubular housing.
 9. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 7, wherein the opening means is a first score line near one end of the elongated tubular housing and a second score line near the other end of the elongated tubular housing.
 10. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 7, wherein said package is made of paper.
 11. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 7, wherein said package is made of plastic.
 12. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 7, wherein said package is made of aluminum foil.
 13. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 7, wherein said applicator tip is made of cotton.
 14. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 7, wherein said applicator tip is made of foam.
 15. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 7, wherein said applicator tip is a brush.
 16. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound comprising: a swab applicator comprising an elongated tubular housing enclosing a predetermined quantity of liquid with an opening means to release the liquid to an applicator tip affixed to one end of the elongated tubular housing; and a package sealing the applicator tip with a predetermined quantity of the dry compound form of the chemical or medication sealed in or around the applicator tip; wherein when the liquid is released into the applicator tip through the opening means, the liquid in the moisturized applicator tip will interact with the dry compound in the correct predetermined ratio for application after the packaging is removed.
 17. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 1, wherein a package seals the swab applicator.
 18. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 17, wherein said package is made of paper, plastic, or aluminum foil.
 19. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 2, wherein a package seals the swab applicator.
 20. A swab packaging with separated liquid and dry compound as in claim 3, wherein a package seals the swab applicator. 